The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of how our relationships with others and our environment informs our sense of morality and effects change for the better.
Building Love in Relationship
The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians exhorts us to a life pleasing to God and holiness in sexual contact.
* [4:3–8] Many think that this passage deals with a variety of moral regulations (fornication, adultery, sharp business practices). It can be more specifically interpreted as bringing general norms to bear on a specific problem, namely, marriage within degrees of consanguinity (as between uncle and niece) forbidden in Jewish law but allowed according to a Greek heiress law, which would insure retention of an inheritance within the family and perhaps thereby occasion divorce. In that case, “immorality” (1 Thes 4:3) should be rendered as “unlawful marriage” and “this matter” (1 Thes 4:6) as “a lawsuit.” The phrase in 1 Thes 4:4, “acquire a wife for himself,” has often been interpreted to mean “control one’s body.”1
Psalm 97 declares the Glory of God’s Reign.
* [Psalm 97] The hymn begins with God appearing in a storm, a traditional picture of some ancient Near Eastern gods (Ps 97:1–6); cf. Ps 18:8–16; Mi 1:3–4; Heb 3:3–15. Israel rejoices in the overthrowing of idol worshipers and their gods (Ps 97:7–9) and the rewarding of the faithful righteous (Ps 97:10–12).2
The Gospel of Matthew proclaims the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids.
* [25:2–4] Foolish…wise: cf. the contrasted “wise man” and “fool” of Mt 7:24, 26 where the two are distinguished by good deeds and lack of them, and such deeds may be signified by the oil of this parable.3
Candice Tucci, OSF, notes that today we celebrate the feast of St. Monica. She is known to be the patron saint for married women, difficult marriages, disappointing children, victims of adultery or unfaithfulness, victims of abuse, and conversion of relatives. She was in fact in a difficult marriage and experienced much of why she was named to be the patron. We know her best as the mother of St. Augustine who led a rather lurid life until through Monica’s fidelity and prayers to God, Augustine experienced conversion and became a theologian, philosopher, Bishop, Saint, and Doctor of the Church. St. Monica was an amazingly strong woman of Faith, Hope and Charity.
We are all on a spiritual journey. Our readings today provide a map for our own examination of conscience. Within our own cultural history of sin and grace, we can see that there are difficult marriages, parents disappointed in their children, children abused by adults, the building of our own golden idols, exploitation, and a basic lack of reverence for life. Are we awake and alert to the Light of Christ that dwells within each of us? Our own holiness? Does the light within you seem dim and in need of refreshing? Can we share what we have to help bring healing and wholeness to our world and each other? I think the five Virgins in the Gospel were rather selfish in not sharing their oil. (Just another perspective!) We are called to community to be, as St. Ignatius of Loyola teaches, women and men for and with others.4
Don Schwager quotes “The Kingdom of God compared with ten maidens,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"The whole story is about the great day of the Lord, when those things concealed from the human mind will be revealed through our understanding of divine judgment. Then the faith true to the Lord's coming will win the just reward for unwavering hope. For in the five wise and five foolish virgins (Matthew 25:2), a complete separation between the faithful and unfaithful is established... The wise virgins are those who, embracing the time available to them, were prepared at the first onset of the coming of the Lord. But the foolish were those who were lax and unmindful. They troubled themselves only over present matters and, forgetting what God said, did not direct their efforts toward hope for resurrection." (excerpt from the commentary ON MATTHEW 27.3,5)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 comments that the things we do have a higher purpose than to earn God’s pleasure. They are meant to create a pure and holy place in us for the Holy Spirit to dwell. We are created to be that dwelling place. Although Paul is speaking to the Thessalonians specifically about purity in marriage, his words can apply to all our relationships and every area of our lives (4:9-12).
In order to be pure, there’s a certain separation that has to occur: separation from immorality, lust, and exploitation of other people. With God’s help, we can detach ourselves from those things and more. You may need to disengage from sexual immorality, but it just as well might be a tendency to be judgmental, resentful, or lazy. Or maybe there is one area you know you could grow in, such as patience or temperance. Ask the Lord for his help in that specific area.6
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the parenesis of Paul in his final quick instructions to the Thessalonians concerning sexual relations. Paul shows God as an avenger or goel, taking your part when no one else will. Friar Jude reminds us that the lesson in the parable is to be prepared for our last day.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Pelagius saw God as present within all that has life. He understood Jesus’ command to love our neighbor as ourself to mean loving not only our human neighbor but all the life forms that surround us. ‘So when our love is directed towards an animal or even a tree,’ he wrote, ‘we are participating in the fullness of God’s love.’ [3] [4] Thomas Berry (1914–2009), a modern mystic who shares similar insights, was a Catholic priest of the Passionist order as well as a cultural historian and eco-theologian. Fr. Richard has been very impressed with his writings and his call to participate in what he calls “The Great Work” of our time, which “is to carry out the transition from a period of human devastation of the Earth to a period when humans would be present to the planet in a mutually beneficial manner.” [5]
In reality there is a single integral community of the Earth that includes all its component members whether human or other than human. In this community every being has its own role to fulfill, its own dignity, its inner spontaneity. Every being has its own voice. Every being declares itself to the entire universe. Every being enters into communion with other beings. This capacity for relatedness, for presence to other beings, for spontaneity in action, is a capacity possessed by every mode of being throughout the entire universe. [6]7
Our relationship with people and Nature is an opportunity to attend to the prompting of the Spirit that leads us to live in a full and honourable Way.
References
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